Laser Light Therapy accelerates healing

What do many of our patients at Integrative Health Group have in common with more than 50 U.S. Olympic teams? The answer is Laser Light Therapy. Even though doctors who travel with our Olympic teams are sure to include laser therapy to keep participants in the game, it is not just for athletes.

We have been providing this painless therapy for the past decade and its works for so many things! Let me briefly explain why it is so effective.

A mitochondrion exists inside each and every human cell. It is a cell organelle referred to as the power plant of the cell. This powerhouse of the cell is basic to all life of the human body because it has the ability to manufacture a substance called ATP. ATP is essential because it is what the human body uses for energy. In fact it is the only substance your body can ultimately use as energy.

Everything you eat must first be completely digested and then converted to ATP in order to extract any energy from it. Without adequate amounts of ATP, living organisms cannot do what they must to survive and thrive. On the contrary, abundant supplies of ATP mean that cells have adequate energy to do all the things they must do to stay alive AND to easily and quickly heal and repair from assaults and illnesses that affect the body.

So if ATP is so important, and if we do not have to worry that we can acquire too much of it, how can we get it? What would a person’s body do if it could send ATP – a lot of ATP – to a specific region of the body, particularly one that was giving that individual trouble?

That brings us back to L.A.S.E.R. which stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. This fascinating process is what we use on a daily basis to bring relief and accelerate healing.

Referred to as Laser Light Therapy or Cold Light Laser, it directs painlessly intense (but yet cold) light to a specific place of the body. You might wonder how laser light is different from other types of light sources that are also pointed to particular points of destination, such as a high powered flashlight like that used by a coal miner. Indeed it is designed to be focused down to a fairly narrow beam, but even the best lights such as a miner’s light will be focused to one point but yet scatter a lot. That is because the farther the light gets from the light, the more spread out the central beam becomes.

A laser beam is different. It is “coherent,” allowing it to be brought to a finer focus than other types of light, but at the same time possessing the ability to remain unscattered quite a distance from its original source.

Laser Light Therapy allows us to direct the light to cells, which arrives with the instruction for the cells to MAKE more ATP. The light donates photons to the cells of the body much like the sun does on a plant. It is through that photon absorption by mitochondria which causes Laser Therapy to increase cellular energy. Amazingly enough, mitochondria are able to absorb light, which then activates a series of reactions to increase and store more cellular energy in the form of ATP.

Think about the consequences of that. With additional ATP, those particular cells can do all the things that they do for daily survival while having energy left over to do other things that go beyond simple survival.

Extra energy in the form of ATP can be used by cells, tissues, and organs, to:

Is Laser Therapy just someone’s hope for help in a fast and painless way? No, because the research that has been done to date is quite impressive and surpasses that of numerous devices which are commonly used in standard medicine.

For example, Dr. Juanita Anders – a researcher at the Uniformed Services University, a medical school of the U.S. Military in Bethesda Maryland – did nerve regeneration research. Her team utilized some of the most up-to-date technology to count the number of nerve cells regenerated in severed spinal cords —- cords that were treated both with and without Cold Laser Therapy. Dr. Anders’ team stated that, “Cold Laser Therapy is not only non-invasive, but it affords promising treatment for devastating spinal cord injuries.” Over the past ten years since her original research, she and her teams have proven that spinal cords of test animals treated with Cold Laser Therapy healed 3 times better and faster than those not treated with the Cold Laser.

Dr. Jeff Nelson, Director of the Burn and Wound Center at St. Mary’s Hospital in Tucson, Arizona said the following:

“Light energy has been used for healing since the earliest recorded medical history, but has gone out of favor in Western medicine with the advent of the existing paradigm of a more surgical and pharmacological basis… Cold Laser has been an essential part of therapy for practitioners around the world for almost 20 years, but it is only recently catching on in the United States. Still, the vast majority of students of medicine and allied health practices in this country are not being taught its efficacy and use… I have had the opportunity to assist multiple patients with pain management, wound healing and physical recovery… This modality has been the best new technology I have had to offer my patients in the last decade. It is my hope that others will latch onto this technology and bring it forward, for it is a completely non-invasive option that provides so many physiologic advantages with no apparent side effects.”

Faster Wound Healing: Light from the Cold Laser stimulates cells to speed up collagen synthesis in damaged tissue. Collagen, the most abundant protein in the body, is the building block for muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia, bones, skin, and several other connective tissues.

WHAT CAN COLD LASER ACCOMPLISH, YOU ASK?

Increased Cell Growth: Laser light accelerates cellular reproduction and growth. Cold Laser Therapy actually has the opposite effect on cancer cells —- slowing down their rate of division.
Increased Metabolic Activity: Laser photons initiate higher outputs of specific enzymes, immune cells, oxygen, and nutrition for blood cells. Pain Relief: Pain Relief is due not only to accelerated healing processes, but is also the result of increased release of endorphins. Cold Laser can be more effective for pain than acupunctureIncreased Cellular Detoxification: Increased ATP is known to provide increased cellular energy for “cellular housekeeping”. This results in faster healing.Increased Immune System Function: Numerous studies show that coherent light from a Cold Laser actually stimulates the immune system.Better Blood: Numerous studies show that Cold Laser is very beneficial to increasing both the amount of blood, as well as increasing the blood’s function.

Reduced Fibrous Tissue (Scar Tissue) Formation: Lasers have been shown to reduce the formation of scar tissue following tissue damage from cuts, scratches, burns or surgery.

Anti-Inflammatory Actions: Cold Laser Therapy has been shown in numerous studies to decrease inflammation. Inflammation is a largely “systemic” chemical issue that causes all sorts of problems (swelling is one of many). This probably helps explain why Cold Laser Therapy can help so many different problems.

Laser Acupuncture: Dozens of studies indicate that Cold Laser Therapy stimulates acupuncture points as effectively as needles.
SHOULDER PROBLEMS: We see a large number of patients with shoulder problems. Cold Laser allows for deeper penetration (nearly two inches) than any form of body work that a person can obtain from other types of therapies.KINDS OF HEALTH PROBLEMS CAN COLD LASER POTENTIALLY HELP

KNEE PROBLEMS: This could mean anything from a Torn Meniscus to a post-surgical rehab. Cold Laser Therapy has helped people suffering with pain due to degenerative arthritis. There are over 25 studies on this specific topic.

PLANTAR FASCIITIS: Many patients have tried corticosteroid injections and anti-inflammation medication with no relief before trying Laser Therapy. We have seen patients with chronic cases get permanent relief (so far) with Cold Laser Therapy.

TENDINOPATHIES and BURSITIS: Most common tendon problem – tendinitis

CHRONIC NECK PAIN: Cold Laser Therapy is an excellent – even for the extremely stubborn cases.

SCIATICA, CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN, AND DISC HERNIATION: Because of the lack of nutrition in our food, Disc Herniations are epidemic in the United States. Countless people continue to suffer after back surgery. Laser brings relief as the body actually repairs.

HIP PROBLEMS

DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS / RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: Cold Laser Therapy helps speed up the regeneration process of Collagen — the building block for all connective tissues, including bone and cartilage.

VARICOSE VEINS

PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME: A neuromuscular disorder that occurs when the sciatic nerve is compressed or otherwise irritated causing pain, tingling and numbness in the buttocks.

OVERUSE OR INJURY OF THE KNEE: These cases are resolved quickly and easily with Cold Laser Therapy.

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME: Cold Laser Therapy along with specific supplements has proven to be very effective.

POST SURGICAL PAIN and REHAB: There is valid research concerning the ability of Cold Laser Therapy to increase the number of blood vessels in tissue, effectiveness in decreasing inflammation, also increasing osteoblastic, fibroblastic / chondroblastic activity, which results in building and repairing of bone, tissue, and cartilage.

TMJ (JAW PAIN) and FACE PAIN: Cold Laser Therapy along with a protocol of specific supplements.

TRIGGER THUMB AND DeQUERVAIN’S SYNDROME: Trigger Thumb is inflammation of tendons located within a protective covering called the tendon sheath.
DeQuervain’s Syndrome is tendinosis of the thumb extensor muscles. Both conditions respond extremely well to Cold Laser Therapy.

DENTAL ISSUES: The number of dental conditions that greatly respond to Cold Laser Therapy are too numerous to list.

FIBROMYALGIA and CHRONIC NON-SPECIFIC PAIN: Fibromyalgia is accompanied by poor muscle healing and pain. Laser causes the tightness of the muscles to relax, bringing significant relief.

SKIN PROBLEMS / RASHES / SCARS / ACNE

MALE and FEMALE INFERTILITY

Q. Does it hurt? What does treatment feel like?

There is little or no sensation during treatment. Occasionally one feels a mild, soothing warmth or tingling.

Q. Are there any side effects or associated risks?

During more than 20 years of use by healthcare providers all over the country, very few side effects have ever been reported. Occasionally some old injuries or pain syndromes may feel aggravated for a few days, as the healing response is more active after treatment.

Q. How long does each treatment take?

30 minutes.

Q. How often should you receive treatment?

Chronic problems respond well to weekly treatments, although treatment every 10 days to two weeks causes a significant improvement.

Q. How many treatments does it take?

This depends on the severity of the condition being treated. For acute conditions, 1-6 treatments may suffice. More chronic problems might require 10-15 (or more) treatments. Conditions such as severe arthritis may require ongoing periodic care to control pain.

Q. How long before the results are realized?

Some patients feel improvement (usually pain reduction) after the very first treatment. Sometimes the improvement is not recognized until a few days have passed. This does not mean that nothing was happening. Each treatment is cumulative and results are often felt after 3-4 sessions.

Q. Can it be used along with other forms of treatment?

Yes. Laser therapy is often used with other forms of therapy although it makes a significant difference on its own.

We have a large number of patients seeking our laser therapies, and I have been advised to increase the fees which have remained the same for the past five years. Schedule now before that happens for this remarkable method of repair.